Nondegree Programs

Harvard Divinity School offers several nondegree options for those interested in joining the community for a period of time without earning a degree. These options include the following:

Special student program. Designed for individuals who have obtained a bachelor’s degree and who wish to take courses for credit that could possibly be used toward completion of a degree program at a later date.

Ministers in the Vicinity. Designed for pastors, ministers, rabbis, and others engaged in full-time ministry within 50 miles of the HDS campus who would like to take courses either for audit or credit at HDS.

Resident Fellows. Provides an opportunity for sabbatical study for missionaries and executives of denominations and religious bodies who wish to be in residence at HDS while on leave from their regular duties.

Auditing. Anyone who is interested in auditing a class at HDS is welcome to do so.

Summer Language Program. An intensive eight-week program of language study open to anyone who holds an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution.

Religious Studies and Education Certificate. Jointly sponsored by HDS and Harvard Extension School, the Certificate is designed to provide educators with a multidisciplinary foundation for approaching the study of religion in public school classrooms or in other educational settings focused on learning about religion.

HDS Voices

I give to Harvard Divinity School because it’s another opportunity to practice the kind of leadership HDS taught me. My gift becomes part of a goodness that is bigger than I am—where I can’t necessarily control the outcome, but can participate in the emergence of something far better than I could have imagined.—Ruth B. Purtilo, MTS '75, PhD '79; HDS Leadership Council